Fire damages a popular Santa Barbara restaurant

A fire broke out in the kitchen of Jill’s Place restaurant in Santa Barbara causing extensive damage this morning.

Firefighters were called to the 600 block of Santa Barbara Street just before 4 a.m.

Investigators said the fire started in the kitchen area of the restaurant. The cause has not been determined.

A city fire crew arrived and knocked down the blaze in about 15 minutes.

The fire did not spread into the seating area, but there was smoke damage throughout the building.

No one was injured.

The Shalhoob family has owned the site since the 1970’s as a meat shop, deli, and in recent years, a restaurant.

“Thank God there was a patrol car coming up Santa Barbara street,” said Jerry Shalhoob. “He spotted the smoke. Kudos to those guys for spotting it because the building would have been gone if nobody was around.”

20103494